Legislation allowing Hazel Hurst native Jamie Himes Dana to
officially adopt her bomb-sniffing dog Rex remains in limbo.

Waiting on passage of the larger Defense Appropriations bill,
lawmakers could go in one of three ways to approve the legislation
– which must be moved on by Dec. 31. The bill contains funding for
the military in Iraq and Afghanistan and is a political hot-button
between both Democrats and Republicans.

“This is a bill that must be passed,” Peterson’s Communications
Director Chris Tucker said Wednesday. “Congress is mandated to pass
it before they go home for the holiday break.”

Just what form the bill takes is another story.

According to Tucker, the legislation could be passed outright
after returning to the House for approval after minor changes were
made in the Senate version; a continuing resolution could be
passed, which essentially allows the bill to be approved with the
same funding from this year, only to be debated again after
Congress reconvenes in mid-January; or the controversial provision
calling for oil drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge
could be taken out – the Senate defeated that proposal
Thursday.

All of this leaves Dana’s amendment, which was tied into the
defense bill, hanging.

“We anticipate changes will be made to the bill,” Tucker said,
adding the situation could be resolved as early as today.

Earlier this month, officials said negotiators working on the
bill agreed to adopt legislation allowing exemptions to the current
statute prohibiting the adoption of military working dogs before
the end of their useful working life.

Dana’s quest to adopt her dog is believed to be unprecedented in
military history. The matter has also reached the highest political
profile and has been featured in the national media.

The U.S. Air Force technical sergeant was severely injured when
a roadside bomb ripped through the vehicle she was riding in near
Kirkuk, Iraq, this summer. At first, Dana believed the dog had died
in the explosion, but later found out he had survived with only a
burn to his nose.

Medical personnel who cared for Dana credit the affection she
had for Rex with enhancing her will for survival while recovering
from her wounds.

The Senate did pass legislation Wednesday in the Deficit
Reduction Act which calls for increased funding to rural hospitals
and more access to health care services.